Bale wrapping method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for wrapping a protective cover about a bale. The bale is supported stationary on a tined lift of a vehicle and provided within a frame having a roll of a protective cover rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The roll of protective cover orbits about the bale for at least one complete revolution and protective covering is withdrawn from the roll onto the bale during the revolution. Thereafter, the protective cover is severed, and the wrapped bale is withdrawn from the frame. The time required to load and unload the bale from the wrapping machine is minimized since the bale is engaged by the tined lift of the tractor throughout the entire operation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus forefficiently wrapping a bale of hay with a protective covering, such as aplastic wrap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Numerous patent documents disclose methods and apparatus forwrapping hay bales with a plastic wrap. For example, U.S. Pat, No.4,606,172 issued to Miller discloses a tractor having a fork lift thatis used to penetrate the end wall of a formed hay bale and lift andposition the hay bale adjacent a stationary roll of plastic wrapsuspended from the tractor. The fork of the tractor is formed as part ofa turntable so that, when the bale is lifted from the ground by the forklift, the bale of hay can be rotated by the fork. Plastic wrap is drawnonto the hay bale from the roll by rotation of the hay bale relative tothe stationary roll.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,971 issued to Sampson discloses a portablebale wrapper for wrapping bales of hay seated upright on an underlyingground surface. The portable wrapper includes a fork which is inserteddownwardly into the top end wall of the hay bale and is connected to anarm which extends outwardly and downwardly from the fork to position aroll of plastic wrap adjacent the sidewalls of the hay bale. The arm ispivotally connected to the fork so that the roll is manually rotatedabout the hay bale to apply the wrap to the hay bale.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,484 issued to Popelka discloses a hay balewrapping machine having a horizontally disposed turntable on which asingle hay bale is loaded and supported. The wrapping machine has a rollof plastic wrap disposed in an upright position adjacent the turntableso that, as the turntable rotates the hay bale, plastic wrap is drawnfrom the roll onto the hay bale.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,271 issued to Walton and U.S. Pat. No.6,253,532 issued to Orpen disclose bale wrapping machines provided onwheeled frames. A single bale of hay can be supported and slowly rotatedon the wrapping machine while a roll of plastic wrap orbits about thebale via the pivoting movement of a wrapping arm to apply the wrap tothe hay bale.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,934 issued to Scherer et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,660,023 issued to Kivela, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,076 issued to Anderson,and U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,466 issued to Underhill disclose other balewrapping machines for wrapping individual hay bales. Also see U.S. Pat.No. 5,531,061 issued to Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,864 issued toReeves, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,956 issued to Tardif, U.S. Pat. No.5,012,631 issued to Hostetler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,124 issued toAnderson, and U.S. Pat No. 6,070,400 issued to Peeters et al. thatdisclose bale wrapping machines for continuously wrapping multiple balesof hay positioned in an end-to-end relationship. Further, U.S. Pat. No.5,079,898 issued to Springs et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,059 issued toKluver et al., U.S. Pat No. 5,930,980 issued to Madsen, and U.S. Pat.No. 4,656,812 issued to Busse et al. and U.S. patent applicationPublication No. 2001/0047640 of Schaefer disclose machines in which haybales are formed and wrapped.

[0007] Although the bale wrapping methods and apparatus disclosed in theabove referenced patents and published patent application may functionsatisfactorily for their intended purposes, there remains a need for animproved hay bale wrapping method and apparatus that minimizes timespent loading and unloading hay bales within a wrapping machine. Themethod should also be capable of use for wrapping hay bales with aprotective cover in an efficient manner requiring only a minimum ofskill and labor. The apparatus should be inexpensive to manufacture andshould be provided in a mobile form permitting efficient storage andtransportation between work sites.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the presentinvention is to provide a method and apparatus for the efficientwrapping of bales with a protective cover.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelbale wrapping method and apparatus that minimize time required to loadand unload hay bales relative to a bale wrapping machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] More specifically, the present invention is a method of wrappinga protective cover about a bale in which a bale is penetrated by a tinedlift of a vehicle and provided to a frame having a receiver for aprotective cover roll rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis.The bale is positioned in proximity with the axis of rotation of therotatable receiver by the vehicle, and the protective cover rollreceiver is caused to move in a path about the axis with the protectivecover engaged with the bale for at least one complete revolution.Thereafter, the protective cover is severed, and the wrapped bale iswithdrawn from the frame. The time required to load and unload the balefrom the wrapping machine is minimized since the bale is engaged by thetined lift of the tractor throughout the entire operation. After thebale is wrapped, the tractor simply locates the wrapped bale at adesired location.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, anapparatus for wrapping a protective cover around a bale is provided. Theapparatus has a mobile frame for receiving a bale held stationary in anelevated position above a supporting surface of the frame. The apparatusalso has a receiver for a roll of protective material carried on theframe for rotation in a path of movement about the bale. The receiver isrotated by a motor, or the like, about the bale to cause the protectivematerial contained by the receiver to be withdrawn from the receiver andwrapped onto the bale. The apparatus also includes a severing mechanismthat severs the protective material after a desired amount has beenwrapped onto the bale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention should become apparent from the following descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bale wrapping apparatusaccording to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the bale wrapping apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the bale wrappingapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatustaken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatustaken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatustaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

[0019]FIG. 6A is a magnified and partial cut-away view of a portion ofFIG. 6;

[0020]FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B-6B of FIG.6A;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a plastic wrap severing mechanism of thebale wrapping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the blades of themechanism are positioned in an open configuration;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the plastic wrap severing mechanismillustrated in FIG. 7 in which the blades of the mechanism arepositioned in a closed configuration;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the initial position of thewrap, bale and wrapping apparatus according to the method of the presentinvention;

[0024]FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, baleand wrapping apparatus after initiation of the wrapping operationaccording to the method of the present intention;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, baleand wrapping apparatus after almost one full wrap of the bale accordingto the method of the present intention; and

[0026]FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, baleand wrapping apparatus shortly after one full wrap of the bale accordingto the method of the present intention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile balewrapping apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The apparatus10 includes a mobile frame 12 that supports an orbiting roll 16 a ofprotective covering 16 and a severing mechanism 18 and is utilized in amethod according to the present invention in which loading and unloadingof bales is preferably accomplished by a separate tractor having tinedlifts 20 (shown in phantom in FIG. 3). To this end, the tractorpositions and supports the bale, or bales, within the bale wrappingapparatus 10 and removes the wrapped bale(s) from the apparatus 10without ever releasing the bales during the wrapping operation. Thus,loading and unloading of the bales is greatly simplified, and thewrapping operation is performed efficiently within a minimum of timerequiring only a minimum of skill and labor.

[0028] The structure of the apparatus 10 includes a rigid frame 12 thatis preferably made of metal or the like and that is mobile and supportsa roll 16 a of protective covering 16 that can be orbited about astationary bale of hay or like material. The frame 12 includes baseframing 22 having a hitch 24 located at a front end and a pair of wheels26 located at a rear of the frame 12. Thus, the apparatus 10 is readilymoved between work sites by being pulled by a powered vehicle (notshown) to which hitch 24 is connected. The frame 12 has an adjustablevertically-extending support post 28 adjacent the front of the frame 12so that the frame 12 can be leveled when unhitched from the poweredvehicle.

[0029] Frame 12 includes various vertically-extending framing elementsthat support the roll 16 a of protective covering 16, that aid properpositioning of a bale within the frame 12, and that mount a severingmechanism 18 to the frame 12. To this end, frame 12 includes firstupright framing 30 that supports an elongate arm 32 having a receiver 14at one end and a counterbalance 34 at an opposite end. The receiver 14contains and supports the roll 16 a of protective covering 16. Frame 12also includes second upright framing 36, opposite framing 30, having across arm 38 that aids positioning of bales within the frame 12, andthird upright framing 40, adjacent to framing 36, to which the severingmechanism 18 is mounted.

[0030] The arm 32 is connected to upright framing 30 such that the arm32 can be spun in a propeller-like motion about an axis of rotation “A”that extends substantially parallel to the horizontal. The receiver 14is connected to an end of the arm 32 such that it extends substantiallyperpendicular from the elongate arm 32 and substantially parallel to theaxis “A”. Thus, when the arm 32 is pivoted about axis “A”, the receiver14 follows a circular path of travel that orbits a spaced distance aboutaxis “A”. This path of movement permits a protective covering 16 carriedby the receiver 14 to be applied to a bale positioned within frame 12.The counterbalance 34 located opposite the receiver 14 permits smoothand controlled rotation of the arm 34, and a motor 42, as bestillustrated in FIG. 4, powers the rotation of the arm 32 via a chain 44supported on a pair of sprocket wheels, 46 and 48. The motor, forexample, can be an electric motor powered by a portable generator or thelike.

[0031] The receiver 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, includes ahousing 54 in which an industrial-sized roll 16 a of protective covering16 is supported for rotation about roll support bar 56. As an example,the roll 16 a can be about 5 feet wide and supply a sufficient amount ofprotective covering material to wrap a large quantity of substantiallyrectangular four-by-eight feet bales of hay, individually or withinstacks of two or more. The receiver 14 also includes a pair of rollers,58 and 60, that provide an “S” shaped path of travel for the web ofprotective covering 16 as it unwinds from the receiver 14. For instance,the protective covering 16 follows a path of travel within the housing54 from the roll 16a around the outer roller 60 and back around theinner roller 58 before exiting the receiver 14. Preferably, asillustrated, the rollers, 58 and 60, have sprockets or the like, 62 and64, connected via a belt, chain or the like 66 to ensure that bothrotate at the same, or desired, speed of rotation.

[0032] The severing mechanism 18 is utilized to: (a) grip the free end16 b of the protective covering 16 during a first revolution of thereceiver 14 about a bale; (b) release the free end 16 b beforeadditional revolutions of the receiver 14 about the bale; and (c) severthe protective covering 16 after the final revolution of the receiver 14about the bale. Upon severing the protective covering 16, the mechanism18 grips the newly formed free end 16 b of the protective covering toautomatically place the apparatus 10 in condition ready to receive andwrap the next bale.

[0033] The severing mechanism 18 includes a pair ofhorizontally-extending blades, or bars, 50 and 52, that are each capableof pivoting between a first position away from the orbiting path of thereceiver 14 (see FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 9) and a second position within theorbiting path of the receiver 14 (see FIG. 10). The bars, 50 and 52 aremounted on upright framing 40 in a manner that permits them to pivotaway from the receiver 14 such that they extend in a plane spaced fromand substantially parallel to the revolving arm 32 and transverse to theaxis of rotation “A” of the arm 32. In this position, the arm 32 andreceiver 14 are permitted to apply protective wrap 16 to a bale withoutthe severing mechanism 18 being within the path of travel of thereceiver 14. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, the bars 50 and 52 of thesevering mechanism 18 can be swung into a position in which the barsextend substantially parallel with the axis of rotation “A” of the arm32 and within the path of travel of the receiver 14 adjacent to a bale.In this position, the bars, 50 and 52, support the free end 16 b of theprotective covering 16 adjacent the bale and aid in the application ofthe first layer of the protective covering 16 to the bale.Alternatively, this position is utilized to sever the protectivecovering 16 after the final layer of protective covering 16 has beenapplied to the bale.

[0034] The relative movement of bars 50 and 52 are best illustrated inFIGS. 6-12. In a starting position, the arm 32 is stationary and thebars 50 and 52 are positioned transversely and away from the receiver14. See FIGS. 6 and 9. In this position, the bars 50 and 52 grip thefree end 16 b of the protective covering 16 therebetween, and thereceiver 14 is located a spaced distance below the bars 50 and 52. Whena bale is located within the frame 12 of the apparatus 10, the arm 32rotates in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, andboth bars, 50 and 52, are pivoted such that they extend substantiallyparallel to the axis of rotation “A” of the arm 32 adjacent the bales.See FIGS. 8 and 10. Slightly before one complete rotation of thereceiver 14 about the bale, the bars 50 and 52 open to release the freeend 16 b of the protective covering 16 and pivot out of the path oftravel of the receiver 14. See FIG. 11. The receiver 14 then makes adesired number of orbits about the bale to wrap the bale in one or morelayers of protective wrap 16.

[0035] The bars 50 and 52 also function to sever the protective covering16 after a bale has been wrapped. Slightly before the end of the lastrevolution of the receiver 14 about the bale, bar 50 is rotated withinthe path of travel of the receiver 14 adjacent the bale so that theouter layer of protective covering 16 extends over bar 50. Thereafter,rotation of the receiver 14 is halted, and bar 52 rotates intoengagement with bar 50 to sever the protective covering 16 and grip thenewly formed free end 16 b to place the apparatus 10 in a conditionready to wrap the next bale. The protective covering 16 can be severedby a blade or the like carried by bar 50 or 52 or by stretching theprotective covering 16 by pivoting the bars 50 and 52 away from thebale. Alternatively, the protective covering 16 can be severed manuallyby an operator.

[0036] Movement of the bars 50 and 52 can be accomplished by theoperation of a pair of cylinders, such as pneumatic cylinders, 68 and70. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the piston 68 a is extended from thefirst cylinder 68 and the piston 70 a is retracted within the secondcylinder 70, the bars 50 and 52 are engaged and positioned away from thebale and out of the path of travel of the receiver 14. However, whenpiston 68 a is retracted within the first cylinder 68 as illustrated inFIG. 8, it causes the bars 50 and 52 to pivot into a position adjacentthe bails within the path of travel of the receiver 14. Thus, movementof the bars 50 and 52 together in an engaged condition is controlledsolely by the positioning of the piston 68 a relative to the firstcylinder 68.

[0037] The second cylinder 70 pivots along with the bars 50 and 52 whenpiston 68 a is retracted or extended from the first cylinder 68. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the second cylinder 70 is connected viaa slot 72 formed in upright framing 40 to an internal rotating element74 that can be rotated to cause the bars 50 and 52 to open and close.For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, piston 70 a is retractedwithin second cylinder 70 which urges bars 50 and 52 into engagement.However, as best illustrated in FIG. 7, when piston 70 a is extendedfrom second cylinder 70, the bars 50 and 52 are in an open condition. Inthis way, the bars, 50 and 52, can be positioned open as shown in FIG. 7and closed as shown in FIG. 8 to sever the protective covering 16 andgrip the newly-formed free end 16 b thereof.

[0038] The method of the present invention includes supporting a bale orbales of hay or like material within a wrapping apparatus 10. The balesmay be circular or rectangular, and more than one bale can be stackedtogether. For instance, FIGS. 9-12 illustrate a pair of bales, 76 and78, vertically stacked and wrapped together. The illustrated bales, 76and 78, are rectangular and together, for instance, can produce a baleabout eight feet in length by about eight feet in height by aboutslightly less than five feet in width. Preferably, the bales 76 and 78are supported by a separate vehicle, such as a tractor, having a tinedlift 20. See the phantom lines in FIG. 3.

[0039] The bales 76 and 78 are aligned in the apparatus 10 such that thecenter of the bales, 76 and 78, are substantially aligned with the axisof rotation “A”. As illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, the cross arm 38 ofupright framing 36 aids in positioning the bales, 76 and 78, such thatan operator simply needs to lift the bales high enough to extend overthe cross arm 38 to be properly aligned with the axis of rotation “A”.The bales are supported at all times in this position on the tines 20 ofthe tractor and not by the apparatus 10.

[0040] After the tractor positions and supports the bales within theapparatus 10, an operator causes the arm 32 to spin such that the roll16 a of protective covering 16 is orbited about the bales. As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, mechanism 18 grips the free end 16 b of the protectivecovering and locates the free end 16 b adjacent the bales. Thereafter,as illustrated in FIG. 11, the mechanism 18 releases the free end 16 bof the protective covering 16 and moves out of the path of travel of thereceiver 14 and roll 16a of protective covering 16. Preferably, thecovering 16 is a plastic wrap material that is tacky on one or bothsides thereof and clings to the bales as the plastic wrap unwinds ontothe bails.

[0041] The receiver 14 is orbited around the bales to provide as manylayers of protective covering 16 to the bales as desired. Slightlybefore the end of the final revolution of the bales, one of the bars 50of mechanism 18 is positioned adjacent to the bales so that the finallayer of protective covering 16 extends over bar 50. Thereafter,revolution of the receiver 14 is terminated and bar 52 of the mechanism18 pivots into engagement with bar 50 to grip protective covering 16 sothat it can be severed. For instance, the bars 50 and 52 may have ablade that automatically severs the protective covering upon engagement,or the protective covering may become severed upon being stretched whenthe mechanism 18 pivots away from the bail. Another alternative is forthe operator to manually sever the protective covering. Preferably, thefree end 16 b of the protective covering 16 is gripped by the mechanism18 so that the apparatus 10 is in condition to wrap the next bale.

[0042] After the protective covering is severed, the tractor removes thebales from the apparatus 10 and unloads the wrapped bales in a desiredlocation. Thus, since the bales are never removed from the tines 20 ofthe tractor, loading and unloading of the into and out of the apparatus10 is simplified and the time required to wrap the bales is thusminimized.

[0043] Thus, the above-described wrapping apparatus 10 and method ofwrapping bales according to the present invention provides a costeffective and efficient means for wrapping large quantities of bales ina short period of time requiring only a minimum of labor and skill.Preferably, an operator utilizes the controls 80 illustrated in thedrawings to control the operation of the arm 32 and severing mechanism18. One contemplated alternative is to construct apparatus 10 integralwith a tractor so that the same tractor that supports the bales alsosupports frame 12, orbiting arm 32, and severing mechanism 18.

[0044] While a preferred bale wrapping apparatus and method of wrappingbales have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations,and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe apparatus and method according to the present invention as definedin the appended claims.

1. A method of wrapping a protective cover about a bale, comprising thesteps of: penetrating a bale with a vehicle having a tined lift;providing adjacent said bale a frame having a receiver for a protectivecover roll rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis; positioningthe penetrated bale in proximity with the axis of rotation of therotatable receiver; causing the protective cover roll receiver to movein a path about the axis with the protective cover engaged with the balefor at least one complete revolution; severing the protective cover; andwithdrawing the protective covered bale from the frame.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the step of positively holdingthe free end of the protective cover adjacent the bale during at leasthalf of said complete revolution of said receiver about the bale.
 3. Amethod according to claim 2, further comprising the step of releasingthe free end of the protective cover before said complete revolution ofsaid receiver about the bale.
 4. A method according to claim 3, whereina mechanism having a pair of coacting bars is utilized to positivelyhold and release said free end of said protective covering during saidholding and releasing steps.
 5. A method according to claim 4, whereinsaid mechanism also is utilized to sever said protective covering duringsaid severing step.
 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein saidmechanism is pivoted within said path of said receiver during saidholding step, is pivoted outside of said path of said receiver duringsaid releasing step, and is pivoted within said path of said receiverduring said severing step.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein oneof said bars is pivoted adjacent the bale during a final revolution ofsaid receiver about the bail so that a final layer of said protectivecovering extends between said bars.
 8. A method according to claim 7,wherein said bars are pivoted by the action of a pair of cylinders.
 9. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein said step of positioning the baleis accomplished by lifting the bale to a height slightly above astationary cross arm of said frame.
 10. Apparatus for wrapping aprotective cover around a bale, comprising: a mobile frame for receivinga bale held stationary in an elevated position above a frame supportingsurface; a receiver for a roll of protective material carried in saidframe for rotation in a path of movement about the bale; means forrotating said receiver about the bale to cause said protective materialcontained by said receiver to be withdrawn from said receiver andwrapped onto the bale; and means for severing said protective materialafter a desired amount has been wrapped onto the bale.
 11. Apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein said means for severing said protectivematerial is provided by a pair of coacting bars each being pivotablerelative to said frame between a position adjacent said bale within saidpath of movement of said receiver and a position distal from said baleexternal of said path of movement of said receiver.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said bars are positionable in a closedcondition adjacent the bale to hold the free end of the protectivematerial adjacent the bale.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, whereinsaid bars are positionable in an open configuration with said barsextending on opposite sides of said path of movement of the saidreceiver.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a pairof cylinders connected to said frame for use in pivoting said bars. 15.Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for rotating saidreceiver includes an elongate arm that is connected to said frame suchthat said arm is permitted to spin about a substantially horizontal axisof rotation, said receiver being connected to an end of said arm forrotation therewith.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein saidreceiver extends substantially parallel to said axis of rotation andperpendicular to said elongate arm.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16,wherein said receiver has a pair of rollers that cause said protectivematerial to follow an “S”-shaped path before being unwound from saidreceiver.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising amotor attached to said frame for powering rotation of said arm aboutsaid axis of rotation.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein saidframe includes a cross arm for use in aiding the positioning of a balewithin said frame.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein saidframe has wheels and a hitch.